In this lesson about cosmic rays, students will describe why cosmic rays are dangerous to astronauts. Includes information about student preconceptions. This is activity 3 of 4 from "The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER)."

This is a lesson about using analogues to look for life on other planets. Learners will use the results of previous lessons to write a scientific proposal to explore another planet or moon in our solar system for signs of life. This proposal should...(View More) predict the types of energy and nutrients available to sustain life and describe equipment and instruments necessary for exploration and characterization of the target environment. This is activity 4, the capstone activity, in Exploring Deep-Subsurface Life. Earth Analogues for Possible Life on Mars: Lessons and Activities.(View Less)

This is an activity about the discovery of water ice on Mars and involves the use of remote sensing data. Through a Socratic dialogue, learners will analyze three different kinds of data collected by Mars spacecraft to investigate the composition...(View More) and distribution of ices at the high latitude regions of Mars. An extension activity is available in which students use an online simulation illustrating how gamma rays can be used to determine the composition of the Martian surface. This is activity 2 of 5 in Buried Water Ice on Mars.(View Less)

This is an activity about the correlation between annual precipitation and plant productivity in different Earth biomes. Learners consider water evaporation, solubility and abundance relative to life on Earth and relative to finding evidence for...(View More) life on Mars. An extension activity investigates the connection between liquid water, biomes and plant productivity on Earth. This is the 1st of 5 activities in Buried Water Ice on Mars.(View Less)